Overview
This lecture explores whether God's foreknowledge of the future is compatible with human freedom, focusing on the philosophical debate and Alvin Plantinga's proposed solution.
Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom
- If God exists, he is present at all times and knows everything knowable at each moment.
- Many believe God's knowledge includes all future events, such as specific human actions.
- Knowledge requires belief, so God believed long ago what individuals would do today.
- Individuals cannot change what God believed in the past or the fact that God cannot be wrong.
- It seems this removes the ability to do otherwise, thus challenging genuine human freedom.
The Problem of Freedom
- Genuine freedom (free will) requires the ability to do or refrain from an action.
- If God's foreknowledge determines actions, it appears individuals are not truly free.
Responses to the Problem
- Some suggest future claims aren't true yet, so God can't know them in advance.
- Others argue God refrains from foreknowing to allow for human freedom.
- Another view is that God exists outside of time.
Plantinga’s Solution
- Plantinga argues it's not control over the past but the ability to act otherwise that matters.
- If a person had chosen differently, God's past belief would also have been different.
- God's foreknowledge does not threaten free will since his beliefs depend on our choices.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Divine Foreknowledge — God's knowledge of all future events before they occur.
- Free Will — The ability to choose between different possible actions.
- Alvin Plantinga — Philosopher who argues God's foreknowledge is compatible with free will.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Visit plantogovideos.com to learn more about these philosophical ideas.